Brief, Colorful Summary

Ever try describing this blog to anyone else?   Here's a succinct graphic to summarize for the more visually oriented (link to the original to see it more clearly).

  

Memorial Day
Three things I'd like to keep in mind today (and share with readers at the same time).

1. My dad who was a veteran of the Korean War.  While he died many years after his service, I still like to make sure I use today to remember a veteran I knew personally.
2. All of the soldiers who served in Viet Nam.  This was the war that I remember most.  While none of my brothers or I were drafted for this war, it was a time of great anxiety and sorrow.  Even though the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were more recent, there wasn't a constant threat that you or someone you loved was going to be called up at a moment's notice.  We also treated our returning Viet Nam veterans worse than any others in history, and any way I can help to remedy that, I try.
3. All the gay and lesbian soldiers that were required to lie about their lives to serve our country.  Particularly the soldiers that died at the hands of their fellow members, the soldiers kicked out for refusing to live a lie and the brave soldiers that fought for what's right all along.

Current Knitting/Crochet
 As promised, I finished the latest round of the spiral square blanket.

 As it turns out, I think I have at least enough yarn for another round, so one I crochet.

The Beauty Of Easton Mountain

One of the reasons we host the annual Men's Spring Knitting Retreat at Easton Mountain is because of the beauty of the area.

Annual Arrival Photo
It's been a custom for me to take a photo of my arrival at the retreat.  This year, I opted to do a one minute video instead.

 It's also an annual tradition to have a group photo of all the guys at the retreat (well, at least all the guys who aren't taking a nap when the photo is taken).

Here are the guys from this year.

Yes, the weather this year (despite the rain on my day of arrival) was glorious enough to sit at the pool.

Current Knitting/Crochet
By the next blog entry, I should have a photo of the latest spiral square blanket...at least with all the Poem Sock yarn used up.

I'll post photos in the next blog post.

Good Blogging

When I first started blogging, I had some VERY basic ideas on what constituted a good blog entry.

Those Days Are Gone
Today, it's not enough to just have some commentary or helpful tips with corresponding photos and web links.  Today, I also need to come up with an idea that most others haven't addressed in the blogosphere, or minimally, have a different take on current views.

In essence, blog entries now also have to be clever.

I guess the initial requirements for a blog entry were the bare minimum, and still are to some degree.  When all else fails, I can always throw together a blog entry that just rehashes old crap and call it a blog entry.  Even when I put a lot of thought into one of my posts, it doesn't always guarantee that readers will appreciate it.

Current Knitting/Crocheting
The Poem sock yarn spiral squares blanket gets incrementally bigger and bigger.

Since I only have one ball of Poem sock yarn, I think I'll try and supplement this by adding on a border in a solid shade.  I figure if I don't like it, I can always rip it out and order another ball of Poem in this colorway.

A Second Political Blog In a Row

I try to intersperse some of the more political blog entries with non-political ones.  Today's was too important not to write today.

Now Bumper Stickers Need Spell Check...Sheesh!

Gerrymander
   [jer-i-man-der, ger-]

noun

1.  U.S. Politics . the dividing of a state, county, etc., into election districts so as to give one political party a majority in many districts while concentrating the voting strength of the other party into as few districts as possible.

 

Having spent a lot of my time in Upstate New York, I've had the opportunity to watch politics in that state, and I even had the opportunity to befriend the NY State Senator from lower Manhattan, Tom Duane (a truly amazing man). Unfortunately, despite the good work of people like my friend Tom Duane, the state senate become a cesspool of scumbags.  Especially now that the Republicans have taken over the state senate.

 

As part of their power-hungry shenanigans, they have redistricted the 46th District in New York State (parts of Montgomery, Schenectady, Albany and Greene counties) so that a particular Republican candidate could run without any competition. I had the opportunity this past weekend whilst at the retreat to meet someone that thinks this is wrong.  So wrong, in fact, she decided to run against the presumed winner.

Cecilia Tkaczyk, is a former legislative analyst for the New York State Senate and is currently the Board of Education President for Duanesburg Central School District, and thought it was wrong how the Republicans have tried to cheat the system.  She decided it was time to do something herself.  She's smart, passionate about what's right and seems to be gaining a lot of momentum in the race.  She's also a sheep farmer, which is how I was fortunate enough to meet her.

If you're in the Montgomery/Schenectady/Albany/Green county area, please tell your friends about Cece and make sure you and your friends vote for her.  Since I can't vote for her, I did the next best thing and contributed to her campaign.

Grass roots politics affect us all, and the more correct-minded folks we help put into office the better off our country will be, otherwise the 1% will continue to walk all over us.

Current Knitting/Crochet

I have to say, this 10 stitch Tunisian crochet is an enjoyable project...meditative and addictive.  I've only added a bit more to the blanket, but I'm enjoying every row.

 

 

Picture this baby blocked and bordered with some nice satiny edging!

Readers' Comments/Questions

Leslie asks, "Can the yarn you are using for the baby blanket be washed AND dried."

 

It's 75% wool and 25% nylon, and similar yarns I have been able to both wash and machine dry.  But I've never tried it with this actual yarn...anyone else know for certain?

 

Deborah writes, "Can you tell us the source of the roving and spindle?  I've just started spinning and although I'm not at that level yet, I'd love to know where to find it as a sort of carrot: "Learn to spin romney and then you can spin merino... and ultimately, pygora/silk/merino blends on olive spindles."  Oh, that's lovely."

 

Thanks Deborah, I fully meant to include links to the sources for both the pygora/silk/merino and the olive-wood spindle...here they are:

 

Gorgeous Roving - Rainbow Farms Pygora - http://www.rfpygora.com/

Gorgeous Spindle - SpindleWood Co - www.spindleWOODCO.com